Hit-and-Run Victim’s Name Released, Investigation Continues

An autopsy is scheduled Tuesday for the victim of a Sunday morning hit-and-run accident in North Judson.

Officials with the Starke County Sheriff’s office say Michael Keller Sr., 57, of North Judson was run over by an SUV on South Dawn Drive East. He was pronounced dead at the crash site. Oscar Martinez, 24, of Logansport, has been arrested on preliminary charges of interfering with the reporting of a crime and interfering with an investigation. The SUV investigators believe was involved in the crime has been recovered and is being processed by Indiana State Police Crime Scene Technicians. Officers are still searching for the driver, whose name has not been released at this time. Sheriff’s officials are not releasing any additional information at this time, citing an ongoing investigation.

WKVI News Director Mary Perren is glad to be back home in northern Indiana and on the radio. She’s a North Judson native with more than 20 years of news experience. She’s worked in print and radio news in Indianapolis, Hopkinsville, Ky., Nashville, Tenn. and most recently in Winamac before taking over as news director for Kankakee Valley Broadcasting in February of 2013. Her work has been honored by the Associated Press, StateNets News Association, Curb Foundation, Hoosier State Press Association and IBA. When she’s not sitting in the anchor chair or chasing down news, Mary enjoys shopping for antiques, attending concerts and taking long walks and rides in her vintage Saab convertible, weather permitting. She’s also a hopelessly devoted Chicago Cubs fanatic who still cringes at the mention of Steve Garvey and Josh Beckett and maintains it wasn’t Steve Bartman’s fault.